Chennai, Jun 14 (PTI) The DMK today staged a walkout in
the Tamil Nadu Assembly following a sharp exchange of words
between the treasury and opposition benches after remarks made
by one of its MLAs were expunged by the Deputy Speaker.

Participating in the debate for demands for grants to the
health department, DMK MLA R Masilamani recited a couplet from
Tamil classic 'Thirukkural'. His remarks, perceived to be
giving indications over the government's stability, were
expunged by Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman.

When DMK Deputy Leader Duraimurugan objected to it,Deputy
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said only the remarks were
removed and not the couplet and added that the government had
more respect and love for the saint poet Thiruvalluvar than
the opposition.

He said the DMK member's conscience knew the remark had
'indirect pointers'.

Stalin led the walkout of his party members, objecting to
the removal of comments.

Earlier, when Masilamani referred to the low pass
percentage of Tamil medium students (about 1.86 per cent) in
NEET, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said steps have been
taken to ensure that students fared well in the national test.

During zero hour, Stalin, reiterated his party's position
that a Cabinet meet be held and a policy decision (besides a
resolution in the Assembly) be taken to facilitate permanent
closure of Vedanta's copper unit in Tuticorin district.

He drew the attention of Chief Minister Palaniswami that
solatium has not been provided to the kin of Subasri, a
Tiruchirappalli based student who committed suicide following
her failure in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

DMK members boycotted Health Minister C Vijayabaskar's
reply to the debate on demands for grants to the health
department by again staging a walkout.

Later they told reporters outside the assembly that they
were opposed to minister as he was facing some allegations
relating to the 'gutkha scam'. PTI VGN APR
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This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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